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The New Year and New Hope
It has been a minute since I last blogged about LOLA and my life. A lot has happened. At the end of 2022, I entered a new business partnership with a Compliance Firm. It made so much sense to me because they had a team that could help LOLA grow. Together with two amazing leaders, we set off on a course to see how to scale up LOLA.
How did we get to March so fast?
It has been a minute since I last blogged about LOLA and my life. A lot has happened. At the end of 2022, I entered a new business partnership with a Compliance Firm. It made so much sense to me because they had a team that could help LOLA grow. Together with two amazing leaders, we set off on a course to see how to scale up LOLA.
In the middle of the 2023-year LOLA held its first Workshop at Watershed Church. Using our LOLA Playbook, we weaved together case studies and professionals to create a one-day event that brought together the idea of getting prepared. It was a huge success, and we knew we were onto something.
We hit a nerve. And Caregivers now had a place to find all their answers.
By the last few months of 2022, we realized the new company's conception would not work. I think one of my best assets and instincts is that I can decide quickly when to back off on something. I leaned into my team (my personal Board of Directors) and decided to hit the stop button. While it was a painful decision, it was one that we all three decided was best for everyone.
As I entered 2024, I knew a few things,
Listening to my gut is almost always right.
Not being afraid to make a decision that would initially feel painful was not going to kill me.
And finally, what comes out of making hard decisions are people who want to help and see me succeed.
LOLA has grown significantly since 2017. As we enter our eighth year, we are conducting workshops. We continue to help employers and assist and guide families through the most difficult times.
Our team of professionals has grown, and we are incredibly blessed with the support we have had throughout the years.
We hope you find the four-leaf clover this month. If we can be of any assistance, please let us know.
~Esther
Meltdowns
Meltdowns were happening before we all had to go home. We would call each other and tell each other how much work we had and how busy we were and how tired we were...
Meltdowns were happening before we all had to go home. We would call each other and tell each other how much work we had and how busy we were and how tired we were... then one day it all started to change, and as each day grew into another, we had to slow down, pivot, and find new ways to communicate, work with our clients and coworkers. Let’s face it, we all watched paint dry on the wall.
Our new norm has been to cram as many Zoom or WebEx calls into a day to feel like we were still busy and not losing ground. We have been tirelessly trying to figure out how to balance kids, spouses, and work all the while watching the world slowly come to a pause.
So, as I start to review emails coming in from different groups and publications taking notice of the Mental Health of their workforce and providing resources, I want to share my thoughts with you.
These last few weeks have felt like the time period right after my husband died when I felt sad and heavy and numb. I started to have the classic STERBS again, you know, eating, drinking, shopping too much. I was doing some things like an Indy 500 driver and other things like a sloth. I could not find balance. When he passed, grief and depression found me on my employer's 5th-floor bathroom floor. Crying so hard I could not catch my breath. I didn’t see the signs coming at me until I was there, in that space on the floor.
So, in these last few weeks, I have had to “check myself” and find new ways to love myself. I have had to slow down, remember to make lists and find time to love my family. Because NOW, will never happen again. Making dinner together, eating together, watching tv, taking walks together, or just talking outside will be hard to do once we start to re-enter the new frontier. So LIVE in the NOW.
The publications and emails are not wrong, some of us are at home and isolated and not handling things so well, and others are filling up the space so tight we feel our heads are going to pop off and when we return to work, we will be exhausted and have a Meltdown.
SO, take a deep breath 4,3,2, 1...in and out and breathe.
If you need support, there are several resources we can point you to for help. We work with a team of wonderful professionals. We are here to be a heart with ears for you and most of all remember you are LOVED.